Season to feature Empress of Soul and country music legends
Art & Music
MSU Riley Center Performing Arts
Series
Season to feature Empress of Soul and country music legends
Story by Glenda Sanders , Photos courtsey of MSU Riley Center
Thursday , August 22 Lorrie Morgan : Ruby Anniversary Tour 7:30 p . m . | Tickets $ 22 to $ 65
County music star Lorrie Morgan will open the season celebrating 40 years , or her ruby anniversary , of being a member of Nashville ’ s Grand Ole Opry . Her tour ’ s performance will showcase her trademark range of emotions from humor to heartache and everything in between . Morgan made her debut on the Grand Ole Opry stage at age 13 , singing “ Paper Roses ,” and was inducted into the Opry at age 24 . Her more than 35 charted singles include the No . 1 hits “ Five Minutes ,” “ What Part of No ” and “ I Didn ’ t Know My Own Strength .”
The Empress of Soul Gladys Knight and country music legends Lorrie Morgan and Billy Ray Cyrus will headline an eclectic group of entertainers who will take the stage of the Mississippi State University Riley Center for Education and Performing Arts this season .
The 2024-2025 season lineup was announced during a Business After Hours event at the MSU Riley Center in June . The nine-concert season will kick off in August and run through May 2025 .
“ We have something for everybody . We have Grammy-nominated artists , and we have Mississippi artist Mac McAnally , who will be inducted into the Hall of Fame at The MAX in January ,” said Morgan Dudley , director of conferences , events and operations at the MSU Riley Center . “ We have Postmodern Jukebox , a group that takes today ’ s popular songs and hits and gives them a vintage style . We have the Empress of Soul , and then we have Billy Ray Cyrus , Mr . ‘ Achy Breaky Heart ’ himself .”
All of the shows will be held in the Riley Center ’ s theater . Tickets for individual shows went on sale July 15 and vary in price .
“ As distinctive as they are , these artists all have one thing in common : They elevate their performances into events ,” said Terry Dale Cruse , associate vice president and head of Mississippi State University-Meridian Campus , in announcing the lineup . “ Whether blowing you away by their virtuosity or weaving an intimacy that connects directly to your heart , they create memorable evenings .”
In addition to the season ’ s lineup , rising country music star Nikki Lane will perform at the Riley Center on Thursday , Aug . 8 , beginning at 7 p . m . Tickets for the concert range in price from $ 25 to $ 65 and are currently available at the box office .
The MSU Riley Center 2024-2025 series will include performances by the following artists .
Nikki Lane
Thursday , September 19 The War and Treaty 7 p . m . | Tickets $ 30 to $ 90
The War and Treaty , made up of husband-and-wife duo Michael Trotter Jr . and Tanya Trotter , have captured three Americana Music Association awards and , more recently , two Grammy Award nominations for Best New Artist and Best American Roots Song , “ Blank Page .” The dynamic couple also received nominations for Duo of the Year by the Academy of Country Music Awards and Vocal Duo of the Year by the Country Music Association Awards .
Thursday , October 10 Gladys Knight 7:30 p . m . | Tickets $ 70 to $ 125
Legendary singer Gladys Knight , nicknamed the Empress of Soul , has long been considered one of the greatest voices in music history with seven Grammy Awards under her belt . Knight has captivated audiences with a diverse array of chart-topping hits spanning genres from pop and gospel to R & B and adult contemporary . Her days with Gladys Knight and the Pips produced such classic songs as “ I Heard It Through the Grapevine ,” “ Neither One of Us ( Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye ),” and “ Midnight Train to Georgia .” Her work as a solo artist found collaborations with such stars as Elton John , Stevie Wonder and Dionne Warwick .
36 • MERIDIAN LIFE